William Scarborough (d 1676) and Amy Davis of Surry Co., VA

Marty and Karla Grant

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William Scarborough (d 1676) and Naomi “Amy” Davis of Surry Co., VA

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William Scarborough and Amy (—) are my 9 times Great Grandparents.

William Scarborough was born before ca 1635 assuming he was at least 21 when he appeared in court in 1656.

I don’t know who William’s parents were.

He died in Surry Co., VA, but I don’t know if he was born there or moved there from somewhere else.

William married Naomi “Amy” Davis ca 1666 in Surry Co., VA. She was first married to Walter Holdsworth on 11 Oct 1660 in Charles City Co., VA under the name “Naomi Davis.” I don’t know who her parents were. She was born before ca 1644 assuming she was at least 16 when she first married in 1660.

Walter had been married before to Mary (—) who died in May 1660 in Charles City Co., VA by whom he had a daughter named after her, Mary Holdsworth born May 1660. Walter and Amy had two children before he died ca 1665. A 1681 estate record mentions “5 orphans” of Walter Holdsworth but does not name them. Mary, Ann, Naomi and Walter are proven by Ann’s 1673 Will. Another son, Charles, is proven by other records.

William Scarborough is listed on the 1668, 1673, 1674 and 1675 tax lists in Surry Co., VA each time with 1 poll.

William Scarborough participated in Bacon’s Rebellion and was hung for treason on 16 Mar 1676. Bodie had a nice writeup on him in his Historical Southern Families, Vol 3.

William Scarborough, first of his name in Surry, was the ancestor of this family. He was probably kin to the famous family of Scarboroughs of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Mrs. Jewel Davis Scarborough, in her excellent book entitled "Southern Kith and Kin" states that the Scarboroughs of the Eastern Shore are descended from the Scarboroughs of North Walsham, County Norfolk, England, whose arms are: "Or, a chevron between three towers gules, triple towered gules." (See also Harleian Society, Vol. 8, p. 226). Mr. Jennings C. Wise in his "Ye Kingdom of Accomac" says that William Scarborough of Surry was a cousin of Col. Charles Scarborough, son of Col. Edmond Sscarborough of the Eastern Shore.

William Scarborough's name first appears in the Surry Records on Dec. 10, 1656, when he testified in the case of Potter versus Delke (BK 1-124). On June 20 1664, John Rawlings and Wm. Scarborough surveyed and assigned Mr. Humphrey Allen 12 headrights for a certain patent of land (Id, -124). He was appointed administrator of the estate of Ann Holdsworth, June 18, 1675 (BK. 2-52) the reason for the appointment was that Wm. Scarborough had married Mrs. Amy Holdsworth, the mother of Ann and widow of Walter Holdsworth.

Ann Holdsworth made her will on March 6, 1672/73; probated May 4, 1675. She desired to be buried at the discretion of her father (Step-father) Wm. Scarboro and made bequests to her brother, Walter Holdsworth, and sister Mary Holdsworth of cows in the possession of Mr. Tatum. (BK. 2, p. 81).

William Scarborough was one of Bacon's active adherents in his Rebellion. On Jan. 29, 1676/67 the Royal Commissioners, who were appointed by KING CHARLES to investigate the grievances which led to the Rebellion, arrived in Virginia. Berkeley was still in power, but stubbornly refused to have the Commissioners in his mansion at Green Springs.

The Commissioners brought a pardon for the rebels from the King, but the Governor carried on his series of trials and executions. On March 16, 1676/7, William Scarborough was summarily convicted of treason and hanged. (M.C.G.C., pp. 459-60). His widow Amy married thirdly Thomas Tyus. (O.B. 1671-90, p. 194). The KING CHARLES II said that Governor Berkeley "killed more men in that naked country than I did for the murder of my father."

Amy, now twice widowed, married a third time to Thomas Tias (Tyas, Tyus, etc.), ca 1678, in Surry Co., VA. This is proven by a 1679 court record granting Thomas Tias “who married the relict of William Scarboro decd,” administration of his estate. (Surry Co., VA Order Book 1, p. 267).

He was listed on a slew of Surry Co., VA tax lists, some of which also include his stepsons.

∙ 1676 “at Widow Scarbro: Tho Mason, Tho Tias, 2 polls”

∙ 1678 Tho Tias, 1 Poll

∙ 1681 Tho Tias, 1 Poll

∙ 1682 Tho Tias, 1 Poll

∙ 1683 Tho Tias, 1 Poll

∙ 1684 Tho Tias and Edward Booky, 2 polls

∙ 1685 Tho Tias and Edward Bookey, 2 polls

∙ 1686 Tho Tias, Walter Holsworth, Ja Morrice, 3 polls

∙ 1687 Tho Tyas, Walter Holsworth, Edw Scarbrough, 3 polls

∙ 1688 Tho Tyas, Edw Scarbrough, Wm Scarbrough, John Indian, 4 Polls

∙ 1689 Tho Tyas, Edw Scarbrough, Wm Scarbrough, 3 Polls

∙ 1690 Tho Tyas, Edw Scarbroo, Wm Scarbroo, & Tho Scarbroo, 4 Polls

∙ 1691 Tho Tyas, Wm Scarbrough, & Tho Scarbrough, 3 Polls

∙ 1692 Tho Tias & Tho Scarburgh, 2 Polls

∙ 1693 Upper Sunken Marsh Tho Tias, 1 Poll

∙ 1694 Upper Sunken Marsh Tho Tias, 1 Poll

∙ 1695 Tho Tyas, Tho Dunn, 2 Polls

∙ 1696 Tho Tias, Tho Dunn, Tho Scarbrough, 3 Polls

∙ 1697 Tho Tias, John Tias, 2 Polls

∙ 1698 Tho Tyas & Jno Tyas, 2 Polls

∙ 1699 Tho Tyas & his son Jno Tyas, 2 Polls

∙ 1700 Tho Tyas & son Jon Tyas, 2 Polls

∙ 1701 Tho Tyas, 1 Poll

∙ 1702 Tho Tyas, 1 Poll

∙ 1703 Tho Tyas, Wm Dennis, 2 Polls

Thomas Tyous is listed on the 1704 Virginia Quit Rents List in Surry Co., VA.

I don’t know when Thomas Tias died, nor when Amy — Holdsworth Scarborough Tias died.

Children

We can determine several of the children of Amy via the tax lists and the first three via the Will of one of them, Ann Holdsworth who died 1675.

1. Mary Holdsworth was born 11 May 1660 in Charles City Co., VA. She is a child of Walter’s first wife Mary, but was undoubtedly raised by Amy. She was named in her sister Ann’s 1673 Will.

2. Ann Holdsworth, died 1675. Left Will in 1673 naming her siblings Walter, Amy and Mary and step-father William Scarborough.

3. Naomi “Amy” Holdsworth was named in her sister Ann’s 1673 Will. She married Charles White before 1691.

4. Walter Holdsworth, born ca 1665, died after 1695. Named in his sister Ann’s Will.

5. Edward Scarborough, born ca 1670, died ca 1717. Married Ann —. He was with his stepfather Thomas Tias on several tax lists. See their page for more information.

6. William Scarborough, born ca 1672, died 1717. He was with his stepfather Thomas Tias on several tax lists. His wife was named Ann.

7. Thomas Scarborough, born ca 1674, died after 1696. He was with his stepfather Thomas Tias on several tax lists.

8. Christopher Scarborough, born ca 1677, died after 1693. He was with his brother Thomas Scarborough on the 1693 tax list.

9. David Scarborough, born ca 1676, died after 1697. He was on a Surry tax list in 1697. I don’t have any record associating him with the other Scarborough’s yet, but he was in the same place as them.

10. John Tias, born ca 1681, died after 1702. He was with his father Thomas Tias on several tax lists.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for William Scarborough and Amy, Walter Holdsworth and Amy, Thomas Tias and Amy.

Revised: February 2, 2026

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